Welcome to Young Explorer – Australian Alps!
We have 32 very adventurous young people, 2 groups and 4 instructors ready to share some great stories of team work, overcoming challenges and successes with you. Please check in and follow along. Photos and stories will come in and be uploaded via bush telegraph. This sometimes takes a day to a day and a half so please bear with us.
Day 1
Everyone has arrived safe and sound. Instructors Lukas/Emily and Emily/Jacob are excited to get to know their teams this week. Today they are jumping into action with a great team challenge – raft building for one team and Giant Ladder for the other team!
Notes from the field:
Team 1
” There were a few nerves to begin with but by lunchtime everyone was getting on amazingly especially as not too many people knew each other. We started the day with Zombie tag. We were then issued our Outward Bound gear including backpacks and sleeping bags. After lunch we did the Giant Ladder. Everyone put in a huge effort in the heat. We refreshed ourselves by going for a swim in the river. Once at camp the instructors taught us to set up our bivvies which we will sleep under. For dinner we had spaghetti and enjoyed sitting around the fire getting to know each other.”
Team 2
“The group bonded really well at the start and enjoyed raft building and swimming to get away from the heat. We have a lot of nervous energy but are becoming more comfortable with camp.”
Day 2
Both teams have been up early learning how to pack their bags today. Wild possums and mosquitoes challenged some members of the team. Both teams have a big day ahead with more high ropes challenges including the Vertical Play Pen, a citizen science project helping Outward Bound to monitor the water quality of the Murrumbidgee. This data is then passed on to the ACT southern catchment group.
They will then have a short hike to their first campsite in the early evening to avoid the heat of the middle of the day.
Day 3
Both teams are heading into Namadgi National Park today to explore. The teams started their overnight expedition on the southern side of Mt Tennent. One team decided to carry all their gear whilst the other team carried day packs. Both teams hiked really well and made camp in the beautiful Bushfolds flats.
Day 4
Today they hope to Summit Mt Tennent (all with day packs) in the cooler morning before hiking back down. Unfortunately it seems like we have had battery issues and so there are no photos.
Notes from the field:
” Today we hiked up and over Mt Tennent. It is one of the steepest mountains we’ve ever hiked! Spirits were high when we reached the summit. We could see both Namadgi National Park and Canberra. One of the hardest things about today (apart from hiking uphill) was getting the team to walk at the same pace. We also had to look after each other in the hot weather.”
Day 5
All 32 team members have shown amazing resilience this week. They have shown some real grit and determination and should be proud of all they have done. As part of a service project that Outward Bound has been part of for 8 years, the young people met Tim Booth along the Murrumbidgee corridor. Degraded from many years of misuse participants have been replanting the river corridor. These young people were able to play their part in the river restoration by planting a native shrub or tree. In 50 years time there small action today will still have lasting benefits.
Well done to all team members on completing their Young Explorer adventure!
